Stenciling machine



, a. K. HOLBR-OOK Nov. 3, 1942.

STENGILING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12, 1941 66 3.111719? Eraok INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1942. a. K. HOLBROOK STENC ILING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BKflelbnwk.

w J? ATTORNEY 1942- B. K. HOLBROOK 2,301,119

STENCILING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet a wk Y 22 48 INVENTOR I 19 z lfi ATTORNE S Nov. 3, 1942.

B. K. HOLBROOK STENCILING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORN S Patented Nov. 3, 1942 STENCILING MACHINE Bradley K. Holbrook, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to Owens-Illinois Pacific Coast Company, a corporation of Delaware Application June 12, 1941, Serial No. 397,782

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to decorating machines of the silk screen stencil type and more particularly to a machine for applying surface decoration of ceramic or vitreous enamel material to a cylindrical surface such as the bodyj'of a bottle or the like, or to a frusto-conical surface such as, for instance, the shoulder of a bottle.

In general the usual decorating or stenciling machine is constructed for a single purpose, either for decorating the cylindrical surface of the body of a bottle or for the sole purpose of decorating a frusto-conically shaped surface thereof. Ordinarily therefore separate machines are employed where the bottle or article requires both shoulder and body decoration. Where the volume of articles to be decorated is relatively small, the expense of separate, or additional machines cannot be justifled and may be eliminated by the use of a universal type of machine which forms the subject of this application. As will be brought out more fully presently, I have provided a machine which is readily adaptable for decorating either the shoulder or body of a bottle or similar article, the changing from one form to the other requiring only a simple operation.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a decorating machine of relatively simple construction which is semi-automatic in operation and which may be readily converted for decorating either cylindrical or frusto-conical articles.

Another object of the invention is the provision of unified controlling means whereby one cycle of operation is completed upon each operation of the treadle.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter,

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a shoulder decorating machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine set up for decorating cylindrical articles.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the machine taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially in the vertical plane of the squeegee and illustrating a bottle in shoulder decorating position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view illustrating the cylindrical body stenciling apparatus.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a portion of the machine, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 1-1 of Fig, 6.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the operating air control valve.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3 in particular, the machine comprises a wheeled base, or supporting frame Ill, upon which is provided a table surface II or platform above which the decor'ating mechanism D is mounted. The frame 10 also provides support for the operating control means as will be brought out presently.

The mechanism D includes a pair of parallel rails I2 (Figs. 1, 2, and 4) supported along and over one edge of the frame in on upright members l3, or legs, one pair of which forms the front corners of the frame. A vertical post I5 extends upwardly from the frame i0 and is connected at its upper end to the rearward rail l2 medially thereof. The post forms the support for one end of a bracket it which carries a part of the driving mechanism and which rests near its other or forward end on the forward rail l2 to which it is bolted.

In the decoration of rounded or tapering surfaces such as a frusto-conical bottle shoulder, it is necessary that the stencil screen oscillate about a pivot, the point of which is coincident with the apex of the cone. In order to accomplish this, I provide a vertical shaft Il (Figs. 3 and 4) journalled in bearings at the forward end of the bracket IS. A drive gear l8 keyed to the upper end of the shaft meshes with one of a pair of driving racks 19 which serve to oscillate the shaft. A semi-circular stencil screen frame 20 carried at the lower end of the shaft I1 is thereby oscillated in a horizontal plane.

An article to be decorated, such as a bottle B (Figs, 3 and 4) is rotatively supported in a movable article carrier assembly 22. The carrier comprises a bracket 23 bolted to the table I I and arranged to support a bar 24 pivoted thereto for vertical swinging movement. A vertical longitudinal slot 25 is provided in the bar 24 for adjustably receiving bottle supporting yokes 26. These yokes are readily adjustable to position the bottle in decorating relation with the screen when the carrier is raised from the loading position, as illustrated in Fig. 3 to the decorating position shown in Fig. 4. An adjustable stop member 21 or guide holds the bottle against longitudinal slipping during the decorating operation.

A squeegee 28 carried by a rock arm 29 functions to apply coloring material throughthe perforated areas of the screen onto the article. The

arm is pivoted on a horizontalpin 30 which is journalled in a bearing 3| on the bracket i5 and said bearingalso including a pair of guides I! for the driving racks I9. Frictional contact between the screen and bottle incident to engagement of the screen with the squeegee and bottle is such that when the screen is oscillated, the

end to a head 31 carried by the piston rod 35 and have a spacing member at the other end thereof. The bearing 3| supports the racks in positive alignment with the gear l8 and a gear 39 which drives a body screen carriage soon to be described. The length of the piston stroke may be regulated by means of arod 40 disposed parallel with piston rod and connected at one end to the head 31. The rod extends through a boss 4| formed on the motor cylinder and is threaded at both ends to receive lock nuts 42 which may be adjusted as desired.

Air under pressure for operating the motor is supplied through pipes 43 under control of a. rotary valve 44 (Fig. 8) of conventional type. Such a valve is illustrated in Patent #2,]l13,576 to Denelsbeck, dated April 12, 1938, to which reference may be had. Means for actuating the valve 44 and driving mechanism comprises a foot treadle 45 (Fig. 3) pivoted within the frame lllat the base of the post i 5. An'intermediate lever 45 also pivoted on the post i5 is connected at one end to the treadle 45 by means of a rod 41 and by which the lever is rocked. A turnbuckle 48 between the lever and bar 24 of the bottle carrier may be adjusted to properly locate the article in decorating position when the treadle is depressed. The opposite end; of the lever 46 is connected to the squeegee rock arm 29 by a rod 43 and to one end of a valve operating lever 50 by a rod 5i. The lever 50 is also pivoted to the post i5. A rod 52 connects the lever 50 with the operating arm 53 of the valve 44 and a coil spring 54 connected between the end of the lever and the platform H serves to return the mechanism to starting position on completion of each decorating stroke.

Figs. 2, 5, and 6 illustrate the machine as adapted for decorating cylindrical articles such as the body portion of a bottle E. The mechanism comprises a screen frame 55 supported on arms 56 which are adjustably secured by bolts 51 to a rectangular carriage 58. The carriage is adapted for horizontal sliding movement on a pair of rods 59 disposedparallel with the rails l2 and supported at either end by a bar 50 bolted between the corner legs l3. A bracket 5| bolted to the post i5 supports the rods at the center of the machine and carries a part of the weight of the screen carriage.

Movement is imparted to the carriage from the gear 39 which is keyed to a vertical shaft 53 journalled in the bracket l6 and a gear 54 at the lower end of the shaft which meshes with a rack 65 secured to the carriage. Reciprocation of one of the racks l9 thereby transmits motion to the screen for decorating the article. When cylindrical articles are being decorated, the shoulder screen 20 is removed from the shaft iii which continues to be rotated, but ineffectively during the body decorating operation.

Depressing the treadle 45 for each decorating stroke raises the article in the carrier assembly, which may be readily adjusted so that the side of the cylindrical article lies in parallel relation with the bottom of the screen and also sets in motion the squeegee and driving mechanism as heretofore described. It will be noted from the foregoing that changing the machine from one form to the other is a relatively simple matter entailing only a short time and requiring a min-- imum of labor.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a table, a framework thereon including horizontal guide rods at the upper end, a slide arranged for reciprocation on said rods, means for driving said slide comprising an air operated piston motor, a driving rack operated thereby, a vertical shaft arranged at one side of said rack, a gear carried on the upper end of the shaft and meshing with said rack whereby operation of said motor causes oscillation of the shaft, a gear keyed on the lower end of the shaft and meshing with a rack carried by said slide, a stencil screen supportedby and at one side of said slide and movable in a horizontal plane, a squeegee pivotally supported over the screen for operation therewith, an article holder beneath the screen arranged to support an article having a cylindrical surface in frictional contact with the screen whereby movement of the screen while: such contact is maintained imparts rolling mc-- tion to the article, and a valve for controlling the motor.

2. -In mechanism for reciprocating a stencil screen, a horizontal slide, arms adiustably mounted on the slide for supporting a screen, a screen thereon, a pair of horizontally spaced parallel guide rods adapted to support the slide, a rack secured to the slide, a second rack slidably mounted above said first named rack and parallel thereto, gearing forming a driving connection between said racks, an air operated pis ton motor for driving said second named racit, a squeegee mounted above said screen for operation therewith, a bottle holder beneath the screen adapted to support a bottle at times in frictional rolling contact with the screen, and a valve for-controlling operation of the piston motor.

3. In mechanism for reciprocating a stencil screen, a horizontal slide, horizontally spaced parallel guide rods supporting the slide, a screen carried by the slide and movable lengthwise in a horizontal plane, a rack on said slide, a second rack mounted above and in parallel relation with said first named rack, driving connection between said racks including a vertical shaft having gears at both ends thereof meshing with the racks, an air operated piston motor connected to the uppermost of said racks for reciprocating it, a squeegee mounted for operatiomwith said screen, an article holder beneath the screen adapted at times to hold an article to be decorah ed in rolling contact with the screen, a valve for controlling said piston motor, and manualiy operated means for moving said squeegee and holder simultaneously with actuating said valve.

4. In apparatus of the character'described. table, a framework thereon including horizon tally disposed guide rods at the upper end. a slide arranged for reciprocation on said rods, means for driving said slide comprising an air operated piston motor, a driving rack secured thereto, a vertically disposed shaft arranged at one side of said rack, a gear carried on the upper -end of said shaft and meshing with said rack whereby operation of said motor causes oscillation of the shaft, a gear keyed on the lower end of the shaft, a rack carried by said slide and meshing with the last named gear, a stencil screen supported by and at one side of said slide and movable in'a horizontal plane, a squeegee mounted for operation with said screen, an article holder beneath the screen, a valve for controlling said motor, and interconnected means for operating said squeegee, holder and motor. I 5. In stenciling apparatus, a horizontal frame, a pair of horizon spaced parallel racks mounted for reciprocation on the frame, means for reciprocating the racks, a gear meshing with each rack, a pair of vertical shafts supporting the gears, said shafts journalled in and extending below the frame and means provided at the lower end of each shaft for effecting operative connection between it and a stencil screen.

6.v In stenciling apparatus, a horizontal frame,

a pair of horizontally spaced parallel racks attached to the slide, a gear secured to the lower end of said one shaft and meshing with the rack,

and means facilitating attachment of a stencil screen to said slide.

'7. In stenciling apparatus, a horizontal frame,

, a pair of horizontally spaced parallel racks mounted for reciprocation on the frame, means for reciprocating the racks, a gear meshing with each rack, a pair of vertical shafts supporting the gears, said shafts joumalled in and extending below the frame, a gear at the lower end of -one shaft, and means for supporting a screen -and effecting operative connection between it and said gear.

BRADLEY Y K. HOLBROOK. 

